BEAR HUNTING ON HAIDA GWAII

In less than thirty years, over 1000 Black bears have been killed on Haida Gwaii.

Since 1977, the majority of these one thousand deaths can be directly connected to two guiding licences. Today, the bear hunting licenses are held by the owners of the Tlell River Lodge, the Prophet Muskwa  Pacific Bear Outfitters company. Despite research indicating growth opportunities in eco-tourism activities, such as bear viewing in their natural habitat, Prophet Muskwa owners Kevin and Victoria Olmstead, continue to run their business based on recreational bear hunting or as it is commonly referred to trophy hunting. According to Prophet Muskwas website bear hunters travelling to Haida Gwaii, in the past have had 100% opportunity with about 90% success at taking home a trophy pacific black bear.

Since 2000, 185 black bears have been killed on the Islands. These bears are an endemic subspecies (Ursus americanus carlottae), found nowhere else in the world. They are also the largest Black bear in North America.

In 1995, the Council of the Haida Nation passed a resolution at their Annual House of Assembly calling for the end of recreational hunting of Black bears on the Islands. And at a recent February 2004, Community Land Planning Forum, sponsored by the Haida Nation and the Province of BC, Guujaaw, President of the Haida Nation restated this position.

A just-completed economic study on grizzly bear hunting on the central coast shows that guide/outfitters could make more money viewing bears than they can shooting them. The Tlell River Lodge is in a good position to move from hunting to viewing. We ask you to please support the owners of the bear licenses on the Islands in making a transition from recreational hunting to sustainable tourism.